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Top Ten Brilliant Christmas Party Games For Adults

We’ve all been there. To one of those parties. Those stuffy and pretentious sorts where canapes are passed precariously round, prosecco is sipped, small talk is made, and clocks are watched with weary eyes and a getaway is made as soon as socially acceptable. But it really doesn’t have to be that way. Why should it be that just because you’re an adult the fun has to stop? After all, if you can’t let out your inner child during the festive season, when else can you? To assist with this, we have come up with a list of brilliant Christmas party games for adults where drinks will flow, laughs will echo and you’ll see new sides to friends (and strangers) building memories that are guaranteed to last for years to come.

 

Christmas Charades

Instantly get both yourself and your guests into the true Christmas spirit with a game of the all time classic Christmas Charades. This game is a great way to spend an evening as not only is it simple, cheap and requires minimal explanation as everyone is likely to have to have played it before, but you can also have as many players as you like. You can get a printable version of the game for inspiration here and there are also many print outs that can help you make your own festive version. Did you know that there are a few adult versions you can buy for a fun twist on the classic version!

 

Truth or dare Jenga

Think back to one of the most popular games as a child and Truth or Dare is right up there. Put an adult spin on this by combining with another childhood game – Jenga. Write your own Truth or Dare questions and challenges on the block then play as you would a normal game of Jenga. Each player pulls a block from the tower with the additional twist that you will need to answer the question or perform the dare before sticking the block back on the top of the tower. Why not add an additional forfeit such as a shot to anyone who knocks the tower down?

Buy your Jenga set here

 

 

Gargle a song with a forfeit

It’s cheap, it’s simple and the name of the game is in the title. Simply fill a glass, try to sing a song whilst gargling the liquid and the rest must try and guess what you are singing. If they get it right, they get a point! If they can’t get it, you must do a forfeit of their choice.

 

Prosecco Pong / Beer Pong

This is a truly brilliant Christmas party games for adults that promises to break the ice and ignite everyone’s competitive sides.  The rules are simple; throw/bounce a ping pong ball into a cup of prosecco or beer. If it lands the person on the opposing end must drink it, if it misses they get to return the favour and try throw/bounce into your cup. The winner is the person who lands the ball into all the cups first. What could possibly go wrong…

You can purchase different edition of this game online: Prosecco Pong or Beer Pong

 

 

Pie Face

There is something so timeless about this game that you enjoy it at any age. The game is simple, all you need to do is put whipped cream on the hand of the game and turn the dial. Each turn could be vital as it’s one step nearer to the cream hitting someone in the face – fingers crossed that person is not you! This is a game which will break the ice and encourage guests to start talking if they haven’t met everyone already. You can purchase a copy here

 

Christmas Movie Drinking Game

This is another classic Christmas party game for adults and one that is sure to get everyone involved and enjoying a drink or two. Gather everyone around the TV, put on a Christmas film and devise a list of rules such as taking a drink when someone says a certain word, taking a drink when a famous villain enters the room, take a drink when someone dies etc. Depending on your rules and the film you select, this game can escalate very quickly…!

Here is an in-depth version of the game for you to follow.

 

 

Cards Against Humanity

Cards against humanity is an adults party game that assures to bring out the worst (and most hilarious) sides of your guests – be prepared to be shocked! Each round, one player asks a question from a black card, and everyone else answers with their funniest white card. Be warned, this is not for the faint hearted, some of the answers will make you question if you really know your friends at all. But, it will also have the group in stitches.

You can buy Cards Against Humanity here.

 

Speak Out Game

Best played in a big group, Speak Out is another game that will get your guests laughing. In the Speak Out game, players draw from the deck and read the phrase as best as they can, but it’s not so easy to do when the mouthpiece is hindering them from forming words correctly. With 200 double-sided cards and 5 mouthpieces, you can adapt the rules and play this in a large or small group. Why not add your own forfeits to make it that bit more interesting?

You can purchase this game online here: Speak Out

 

Jackbox party games

Perfect for those of your friends who won’t get off their phone. Jack Box TV involves the use of your phone and games console to play one of many multiplayer games including; trivia sessions, bluffing games, drawing games and so much more. A great way to get everyone involved, you’ll soon find out who the competitive ones are, who the knowledgeable ones are and who simply wants to play for fun. You will need a games console, the internet and to log in on your phone to play. No controller is needed so you can play with up to 100 people depending on the game.

Find out more about Jackbox here.

You may also like: Christmas Cocktails to get the Party started

 

Balloons with forfeits

This one is just a bit of fun to get everyone in the party spirit. First off you need to split off into two different teams then nominate a player from each team to start. The objective is for you to keep the balloon in the air for as long as you can, by blowing it upwards. When the balloon hits the ground first, that person loses and has to do some sort of forfeit – this could be a drink, a shot, or anything you can come up with.

So what are you waiting for? Release that inner child and get as competitive as you like. Release your inhibitions and throw yourself fully into our list of brilliant Christmas party games for adults that you’ll never forget (even if sometimes you’d rather you did…)

 

Christmas Party Finder

10 Christmas Party Ideas in Birmingham

Birmingham is a thriving metropolis, packed full of great venues to visit – particularly during the festive season. Because of this, when it comes to Christmas party ideas in Birmingham, it can be a bit of a minefield trying to narrow it down to just one. This is why we have put together our top picks for you to discover. Whether you are looking for a Great Gatsby themed extravaganza, a place to gather everyone for some cocktails, a place to learn more about gin, or for a breath taking winter wonderland, there is something for every taste, budget and style. Here are our top ten Christmas party ideas in Birmingham…

 

HAC christmas party

 

The Old Library Main Space – For a classy venue

Birmingham’s Old Library is the ideal location for your Christmas party in Birmingham. A beautifully restored Victorian space, it has stunning high ceilings and ornate windows ideal for decorating and creating a truly festive location for a Christmas party. The Old Library Main Space can cater for up to 200 people with a range of food and drink packages, so it is the perfect location to host a Christmas party – and you can customise it to just the way you would like it. And with such a versatile setting, why not make the most of it? You can host a glamorous drinks reception then ease effortlessly into a sit down three course meal. It is also great to have a DJ to end the evening in style and ensure everyone has a great time dancing to the early hours. Be sure to string up plenty of fairy lights for a truly magical finish.

 

Jekyll and Hyde – For a fun gin themed evening

Located with the Colmore Business district and home to over 100 of the finest global gins, Jekyll and Hyde are an ideal location when looking for Christmas party ideas in Birmingham. A Victorian -esque interior bursting with character, it boasts a venue that offers so much more than just a space to mingle. There are a host of different Christmas party ideas here, from gin cocktail masterclasses – which includes guests getting the chance to blind taste gins and make their own cocktails – to a party in their gin parlour, to a cheese fondue party!

 

Edgbaston’s – For Greatest Hits! 80’s, 90’s & 00’s Christmas Party Nights

When looking for Christmas party ideas in Birmingham, you can’t go wrong with a night of glitz, glamour and the best music hits – which is exactly what Edgbaston’s is offering. Edgbaston Stadium is one of the leading international cricket grounds round the world and is home to Warwickshire CCC and Birmingham Bears. With large and modern function rooms ideal for hosting, the Christmas party will have views overlooking the iconic pitch and the Birmingham skyline, giving a beautiful backdrop to dance the hours away. The party includes a red-carpet arrival, a welcome drink, a delicious three course meal and entertainment all through the night until 1am, with the DJ playing the best tunes from the 80s, 90s and 00s. For something a little different, there will also be a face painter and a photobooth mirror situated in the reception area to create memorable moments that will last long after the party has finished!

 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens – For a Great Gatsby Extravaganza

When in Birmingham you would be hard pressed to find a venue more beautiful than the Botanical Gardens. To celebrate the festive season, they are putting on “The Great Gatsby” themed Christmas parties for a truly decadent affair. At the Botanical Gardens, the stage is set for an exuberant, over the top extravaganza you’re sure not to forget in a hurry! Designed to encapsulate the joie-de-vivre and extravagance of the super rich in the 1920s there will be Gatsby-style hosts and hostesses, a delicious three course meal and plenty of wine and other tipples on hand. Dress code wise, you are invited to dress with as much style, glamour and glitz as you can – after all, if there was ever a chance to get dressed up, this is it! The party will be accompanied with period style décor and the night will be complete with a DJ and dance floor to play tunes that are guaranteed to get everyone on their feet and having the time of their lives.

 

Bar Opus – For chilled cocktails and delicious canapes

Bar Opus is a great venue for your Christmas party in Birmingham. A trendy bar located on the piazza of the stunning One Snowhill, it is complete with a terrace and is open all week. For Christmas, they offer great cocktail and canape selections as well as small plate selections for something a bit more substantial food wise.  The open space is ideal to cater for both small and bigger groups and the central location means if people want to move on elsewhere once it has wrapped up, they can do so easily! (Although with a cocktail list like theirs, we don’t know how you’d top it…).

 

ICC –  For a glamorous New York themed bash

Birmingham’s ICC is a shared party space with spaces for 80-600 people and this year are bringing the theme of New York across the pond with their New York New York themed party. Here, you can experience the life of the city that never sleeps with a glass of fizz on arrival and a delicious three course menu followed by tea or coffee. While you are digging in to your feast, you will be dazzled by a talented cast who will entertain guests with New York themed live performances and costumes. Games such as balloon modelling or a dance-off in front of the 1,300 people will take place where you can win a round of drinks for your table or a bottle of bubbly. Once the dinner and dancing it out of the way, you will get the chance to take part in the Charity Fun Casino where you can try your luck at blackjack and roulette, raising money while also having a great time. And to top it off, the night will be captured by a resident photographer, ensuring those memories will last a lifetime (even if your recollections of the whole night don’t…) Find out more and book your NYC themed bash at ICC here.

 

new york new york christmas party theme

 

Birmingham Regency Banqueting hall – For a decadent masquerade ball

The Birmingham Regency banqueting hall is a contemporary and modern event space in the heart of the city, making it the ideal Birmingham Christmas party location. This year they are throwing an incredible Winter Masquerade Ball marrying glitz, glamour, delicious food and drink and outstanding entertainment. The night begins with a VIP red carpet entrance and paparazzi photographer to take snaps of you in your finest evening wear. Entertainment is centred around the Masquerade Ball theme, including singers, stilt walkers, acrobats and so much more! There will be a range of delicious cuisine and flowing wine to enjoy, as well as a fully stocked bar to enjoy a range of cocktails and other tipples. A dancefloor with a DJ will keep the atmosphere alive with an array of music, creating the perfect party atmosphere to keep everyone dancing until the early hours. To capture the memories of the evening, a fun photo booth will be on hand. There are a range of different packages to choose from, including VIP tickets, all inclusive drinks packages and more. You can find out more information on this, including how to book here.

 

Boxxed, Birmingham Christmas party

Transport yourself to the majestic lands of moonlit Marrakech in this themed Christmas party. Taking place in Boxxed, inspiration for the evening is taken from the bustling city of Marrakech where centuries of Bedouin tribes and silk traders have exchanged secrets at market places filled with spices, silk and silver beneath the hot sun.

This Birmingham Christmas party venue commences the evening at 6:45pm where stunning Moroccan bars open, followed by a fire meet and greet. The venue will lead you in with scented oil lamps and Arabian acrobats as you are led across a wooden bridge amongst tranquil fountains and ornate bronze sculptures. All your senses are designed to be tantalised as you enjoy a range of delicious hot and cold canapes while relaxing with a drink at one of the uniquely themed bars. Following this, you can enjoy dinner under a starlit ceiling in a palm-lined dining area, while watching a harem of aerial performers tumbling from above. To end, relax in an intimately cushioned Kasbah with a Casablanca beer, ride the camel rodeo, or take to the dance floor and throw some shapes until it’s time to wrap up for the evening. It’s a truly memorable and unique Christmas party idea in Birmingham. Find out more and book here.

 

marrakesh arabian morrocan christmas party theme

 

Birmingham Christmas Parties at The NEC – For something magical

One of the most famous venues in Birmingham – the NEC – is throwing an all-singing, all-dancing exciting Christmas party for 2018, entitled “wonderland.” An evening of astounding entertainment and intriguing sights, it begins with a magical walk through glistening gates to the iconic NEC kingdom, venturing through an enchanting forest where stilted imps offer delicious hot and cold canapes and unicorns stride around the land. Mirror bars serve a range of crisp wines and chilled beers, while the champagne bar offers glasses of the famous fizz as well as cocktails crafted to order. Once the time for food comes, you will be led to your table for a three-course feast, all the while entertained by world-class aerial entertainers filling the air above you, showcasing world-class routines, while dancers take to the floor below. Once dinner comes to a close, the dance floor opens up to guests, where you can take to the dance floor to some of your favourite hits. Indoor fairground rides and stalls are on offer to really encourage the child within you and charity casino tables open so the fun can really begin. As midnight strikes, breakfast rolls are served and the night winds down against the most beautiful backdrop. What better way to celebrate the festive season in style? Find out more information and how to book here.

 

 

Sky Bar Park Regis – For a party with a view

The Sky Bar at Park Regis is a great contender for Christmas party ideas in Birmingham, thanks to its beautiful panoramic views and great spot in the city centre. The theme for 2018 is a 1920’s Great Gatsby inspired party, held up on the 16th floor with unparalleled sky-high views across Birmingham. This will include period music, costumes and activities as well as a range of delicious cocktails. You will be welcomed by your very own glitter carpet at 7:30pm where you can escape the ordinary and be enticed with a world of glamour. Entertainment will be provided by their own velvet-voiced crooner who will take to the stage to sing a whole host of classic jazz and swing hits before handing over to a DJ for more modern hits until close. For something a little different, the 15th floor are hosting a winter wonderland themed party, with snow-laden trees, frost-adorned table decorations and a glistening night sky. The DJ will be playing a host of tunes from after dinner all the way until after midnight. Both packages include a delicious three-course dinner and sparkling drinks reception to really see in the festive season in style. Find out more here.

Here are just some of the top Christmas party ideas in Birmingham, no matter your taste of style, there is something guaranteed to suit. Check out more Christmas party ideas here

 

Christmas Party Finder

Christmas Cocktails to get the Party started

If there is one thing that everyone looks forward to over the festive break it’s the parties with friends, families and colleagues. It’s a great time to get together, let your hair down and of course indulge in copious amounts of food and drink! For this, there’s no better time to start honing your cocktail skills – this will take your Christmas party up a notch and get everyone in the festive spirit! For this we have put together the top Christmas party cocktails to try this festive season…

White Christmas Margaritas

Impress your friends with this simple yet delicious take on a margarita. Ideal for a Christmas get together, you can have these created and ready to drink in just 15 minutes. This tipple is a delicious blend of coconut milk, tequila, triple sec and lime juice; Snowy white in colour with a sugary white rum, it’s one way to guarantee a white Christmas! Don’t forget to garnish with some cranberries for an extra festive finish! You can find the full recipe here.

Cranberry sea breeze punch

This is the perfect Christmas party cocktail to get you and your guests in the Christmas spirit! Refreshing and simple to make, the Cranberry sea breeze punch can be served in a punch bowl for up to 8 and is a blend of cranberries, cranberry juice, vodka, grapefruit juice and limes.  With a prep time of 10 minutes, (3hrs freezing) you can create this in no time and it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. You can find the full recipe here.

Mulled Wine

Nothing shouts “festive season” more than a warm glass of mulled wine. This spiced mulled wine recipe by Jamie Oliver is super easy and only takes 20 minutes to create. It is a great alternative to more traditional cocktails and doesn’t require too many ingredients. If you have an outdoor area for your Christmas party, this can be a great one to help keep everyone warm too! You  can find the full recipe here.

Festive Cranberry Sangria

While many of us associate sangria with a summer holiday drink to be enjoyed on a beach front, this seasonal version is a great festive alternative. Called Festive Cranberry sangria, it is served in a pitcher with cranberry juice, orange and lemon slices and port wine, making for a delicious Christmas party cocktail. Pre-make before your guests arrive and leave in the fridge to keep cool – it is the ideal drink to pull out and serve when you want to liven the party up! You can find the full recipe here.

Pear and rosemary cocktail

This delicious cocktail combines vodka and pear wine for a festive drink that’s sure to get the party started. It’s simple to make with 3 easy steps and only requires a cocktail shaker as the key instrument to make this tipple. Designed to have a kick in it when drunk, this should be served in a short glass. You can find the full recipe here.

Champagne (or Prosecco) Margaritas

This is another version of a margarita, but this time with everyone’s favourite celebratory bubbles – champagne (or Prosecco). Either pre-make the cocktail ready for people to arrive or fill in a large pitcher for people to help themselves to. This cocktail is an ideal way to toast to the festive season and get the party started. You can find the full recipe here.

Rum and Ginger

Oozing with the flavours of festivity, this rum and ginger recipe has Christmas written all over it. Designed to be enjoyed alongside a mince pie or chocolate, serve in a punch bowl and leave with the food buffet for people to help themselves to. This cocktail not only tastes delicious, but looks it too, so why not have as a centre piece to your table? You can find the full recipe here.

You might also like: How to Cater for a Party

Gingerbread Man-tini Recipe

As far as scrumptious Christmas vodka cocktails go, this is up there with the best! This gingerbread martini recipe is super easy (3-minute prep time) and is sure to impress your guests. The secret ingredient of a Gingerbread Liqueur brings all the flavours to life and combined with the other ingredients creates a bold coloured cocktail. Make sure you keep to each step of the recipe to make the yummiest cocktail. You can find the full recipe here.

Christmas party cocktails can often turn a good party into a great party. Make sure you prepare wisely and get all the ingredients in ready to make the cocktails before your guests arrive. Here are some useful tips to making a great cocktail:

  •         Make sure you use good quality alcohol
  •         Don’t forget to measure the amount of alcohol you pour in the glass
  •         Fresh ingredients can make the difference
  •         Make sure you have all the essential cocktail making accessories
  •         Ice can be the key to making something special

And most of all – have fun and enjoy yourself! And remember it’s Christmas soon!

Christmas Party Finder

How to cater for a party

Hosting a party can seem like a daunting challenge particularly when there are large numbers of guests involved, all with different tastes and interests. This is why it’s important to start your event preparations as early as possible so that you have plenty of time to address any complications that arise.

You need to decide what the nature of your event is going to be and then find a venue that meets your requirements. You need to be thinking about how many people are going to attend and whether the venue you have in mind will hold those guests. Some venues will lend themselves to a unique theme. For example, if hosting in a waterfront destination you might want to consider serving a seafood-themed menu. You also need to pay careful attention to the weather if you’re catering to a party that’s outdoors. Should you be under a marquee and an unexpected spell of wind and rain strikes it’s definitely going to dampen the mood. We have a free venue finding tool that you can use.

 

London bishopsgate hall christmas party venue hire

 

When it comes to food catering it might be worth considering a simple buffet option for larger groups as this can be prepared in advance quickly and easily. Or you could look into hiring out a food van with options such as fish and chips or pizza on the go. This not only feeds everyone but also includes the novelty factor too! If you’ve got more time and resources then a set menu with multiple choices for guests is a winning option. Give just a couple of choices to avoid it becoming too complex and be sure to make note of anyone with dietary requirements or allergies. It’s usually advised to offer a meat or fish option and a good vegetarian option as this generally covers most bases. Have you thought about canapes too? Who doesn’t like a nibble on entry? Canapes are relatively easy and cheap to do so it’s worth looking into!

You’ll need to check in advance what sort of catering options the venue is suited for. Smaller venues may have limited cooking facilities and some might have restricted storage spaces or insufficient space for food prep. Whether you are catering a party yourself or hiring a company to do it, it’s important to check this out as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary drawbacks. Be sure to also decide the layout of your venue (if this is something that you can control.) When deciding where to put up the bar area try not to make it too close to the front door as it can create a frustrating bottleneck when people arrive.

Think also about if you would like a champagne and canape reception when deciding how to cater for a party. This can be a nice touch and make people feel that extra bit special on the night, plus the fizz is a great added way to get people in the mood to party! Don’t forget to calculate how many glasses you want to give per person and work out how many bottles you will need. Take into account some will opt for a sneaky extra glass so be sure there is more than enough to go around so nobody misses out.

 

new york new york christmas party theme

Perhaps you would be interested in: Top London Christmas Venues

 

Another top tip for how to cater for a party is to never underestimate the power of a list! Write down which guests will be attending and their dietary requirements. Be sure to specify if they can bring a plus one or not because you don’t want uninvited guests who you haven’t planned for showing up on the day. Create a calendar and assign tasks to specific days, and be realistic with yourself when setting deadlines as it will only stress you out if you’re not. When planning for the actual day be sure to allow enough time for food preparation and things such as washing dishes (if you are doing this yourself) and packing the food for transport. These are often activities which if you are doing yourself can be dismissed as a quick chore or even forgotten, but in actual fact they can take up a fair amount of unplanned time.

Be sure to also figure out how much food you will need per person. When preparing a set menu it’s easy to keep count when you’re serving for example, one burger or piece of fish each, but you will also need to calculate the numbers of sides such as potatoes or vegetables. A lot of caterers get around this by assigning set quantities per person. For example, 60g of vegetables and 90g of potatoes. This makes it easier to work out how much to purchase and won’t leave you with half-empty plates being served or sacks of potatoes or vegetables left over at the end and unnecessary expense spent.

 

central-london-embankment-venue-hire-christmas-party

 

If you are hiring help for your party then be sure to check reviews in advance to ensure they are reliable and also to factor this cost in when budgeting for your event. This is one of the most important things to think about when it comes to how to cater for a party, so it’s best to source your outside help sooner rather than later. Equip them with a copy of the menu in advance so they are well aware of what is expected and also be sure to give precise instructions for the day. If you want to set a strict dress code – such as black and smart – be sure to outline this prior to the event, and if you want an aspect of your party conducted in a specific way, such as the food laid out in a particular fashion, make sure these instructions are clear and understood. It’s a good idea to provide your external help with a timeline of the event so they’re well rehearsed and prepared for the event ahead.

If there is one thing to take from this blog on how to cater for a party then it’s to be prepared well in advance. Figure out early the main components such as venue, numbers, food type, canape reception months in advance so the finer details can be fine-tuned nearer the time. Stay organised, keep it simple and remember the main goal is for the guests to have a good time. You’ll be an expert at how to cater for a party in no time.

Next Article: Our favourite Christmas cocktails

 

Christmas Party Finder